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Corneal reflex



Corneal reflex, also known as the blink reflex, is an automated involuntary blinking of the eyelids elicited by stimulation (such as touching or a foreign body) of the eyeball's cornea. Stimulation should elicit both a direct and consensual response. The evolutionary purpose of this reflex is to protect the eyes from foreign bodies.

The reflex is mediated by:

  • the nasociliary branch of the ophthalmic branch (V1) of the 5th Cranial nerve (Trigeminal nerve) sensing the stimulus on the cornea,
  • and the 7th Cranial nerve (Facial nerve) initiating the motor response.

Use of contact lenses may diminish or abolish this reflex.

The examination of the corneal reflex is a part of some neurological tests in particular the coma exam.

See also

 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Corneal_reflex". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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